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Journal ArticleMedicine and science in sports and exercise·Graded and published ·Last edited

Why Higher-Intensity Workouts May Protect Fitness Better as You Age

Design
Participants
500
Duration
Funding
Funded by public Norwegian research bodies. Authors report no competing…
Key Insight

This study suggests including higher-intensity workouts may help preserve aerobic fitness in older age.


Older adults aged 70 to 77 who did high-intensity training held onto their aerobic fitness much better over 5 years than those doing moderate workouts. Women doing high-intensity training showed essentially no decline in VO2 peak, while moderate exercisers dropped 4.6%. Intensity mattered more than total exercise time for slowing the age-related drop in fitness.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Funded by public Norwegian research bodies. Authors report no competing interests.

Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.